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No truce, but 12-hour lull in Gaza fighting begins

The Associated Press

Updated:
07/26/2014 01:36:40 AM EDT

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Amidst the morning fog, smoke from an Israeli strike rises over Gaza City, Saturday, July 26, 2014. Israel-Hamas fighting looked headed for escalation after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry failed Friday to broker a weeklong truce as a first step toward a broader deal. Hours after the U.S.-led efforts stalled, the two sides agreed to a 12-hour humanitarian cease-fire to begin Saturday. However, the temporary lull was unlikely to change the trajectory of the current hostilities amid ominous signs that the Gaza war is spilling over into the West Bank. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

The Israeli military says Saturday's 12-hour pause began at 8 a.m. (1:00 a.m. EST, 0500 GMT). It warned the military "shall respond if terrorists choose to exploit" the lull to attack Israeli troops or civilians. The military said "operational activities to locate and neutralize tunnels in the Gaza Strip will continue."

Previous humanitarian cease-fires have been cut short by fighting.

Civilians on both sides have been hardest hit over the past 18 days. Nearly 900 Palestinians and 40 Israelis have been killed.

Demonstrators march and chant in support of Palestinians during a rally in Atlanta on Friday, July 25, 2014 in the wake of the war between Israel and Hamas members in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Ron Harris) (Ron Harris/AP)

The lull was agreed upon by both sides after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry failed to broker a weeklong truce as a first step toward a broader deal.

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Muslims pray outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles on Friday, July 25, 2014 to show support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the war between Israel and Hamas members. (AP Photo) (AP)

Israeli soldiers work on their armored personnel carriers near the Israel and Gaza border Friday, July 25, 2014. Early Friday, Israeli warplanes struck tens of houses throughout the Gaza Strip as international efforts continue to broker a cease fire in the 18 day-old war. (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic) (Dusan Vranic/AP)

A Palestinian man inspects the damage of a destroyed house following an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City Friday, July 25, 2014. Early Friday, Israeli warplanes struck tens of houses throughout the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) (Khalil Hamra/AP)

A Palestinian man inspects the damage of a destroyed house following an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City Friday, July 25, 2014. Early Friday, Israeli warplanes struck tens of houses throughout the Gaza Strip as international efforts continue to broker a cease fire in the 18 day-old war. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) (Khalil Hamra/AP)

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